Tag Archive for: woodblock prints

Jasper52 sale revels in the glories of Japanese woodblock prints

The Japanese began printing with wooden blocks sometime in the eighth century, but only in 1765 did they come up with a process that permitted printing in full color. That innovation, credited to Suzuki Harunobu, allowed for a golden age of ukiyo-e, the Japanese term for woodblock prints. The images caused a sensation all over the world, and influenced prominent artists such as Mary Cassatt, Vincent Van Gogh, and most notably, Claude Monet.

On June 30, beginning at 8 pm Eastern time, Jasper52 will offer 153 lots of Japanese woodblock prints.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/105934768_utagawa-hiroshige-1797-1858-tree-bridge-gokanosho

View the auction here.

Learn more about the auction on Auction Central News.

13 Japanese Woodblock Prints To Prepare for Winter

Whether we’re ready for it or not, winter is coming. To prepare ourselves for the upcoming chilly season, we’ve collected a group of gorgeous winter scenes in selected Japanese prints.

“In much the same way that the Japanese go out in springtime to admire the cherry blossoms, the beauty of snow invites people to come out and admire the winter season,” according to Dieuwke Eijer, Japanese print expert. Further, “Images of cold winter, as indicated by snow scenes, invoke on the one hand feelings of melancholy, and on the other good feelings of bowls of hot noodles, and other typical winter sweet and delicacies.”

Hiroshige alone made over 1500 different winter scenes. The works incorporate a juxtaposition of the hardships endured by mid-19th century workers and travelers and the serenity of a snow-covered landscape. Despite the palpable discomfort of the situations portrayed, there is always an element of beauty visible.”

These 13 prints below highlight the natural beauty of the upcoming winter season. Bundle up and enjoy.

“Kyoto in Snow” by Ito Yuhan

Kyoto in Snow by artist Ito Yuhan, 1930s. Sold for $425

Kyoto in Snow by artist Ito Yuhan, 1930s. Sold for $425

 

“Kiso Gorge in Snow” by Hiroshige

Kiso Gorge in Snow Triptych by Hiroshige, 1857. Estimate: $400-$500

Kiso Gorge in Snow Triptych by Hiroshige, 1857. Sold for $340

 

“Falling in Snow” by Hirokage

Falling in Snow by artist Utagawa Hirokage, 1860. Estimate: $200-$300

Falling in Snow by artist Utagawa Hirokage, 1860. Estimate: $200-$300

 

“Snow at Shiba Daimon” by Hasui Kawase

Snow at Shiba Daimon by artist Hasui Kawase, 1936. Published posthumously by Watanabe. Sold for $280

Snow at Shiba Daimon by artist Hasui Kawase, 1936. Published posthumously by Watanabe. Sold for $280

 

“Mt Fuji in Snow” by Tomikichiro Tokuriki

Mt. Fuji in Snow by artist Tomikichiro Tokuriki, 1939. No. 16 from the series The Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji. Estimate: $100-$200

Mt. Fuji in Snow by artist Tomikichiro Tokuriki, 1939. No. 16 from the series The Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji

 

“Winter Landscape with Crows” by Yamamoto Shoun

Winter Landscape with Crows by artist Yamamoto Shoun, 1900-1910. Sold for $160

Winter Landscape with Crows by artist Yamamoto Shoun, 1900-1910. Sold for $160

 

“Mallard in Snow” by Ohara Koson

Mallard in Snow by Ohara Koson, 1910

Mallard in Snow by Ohara Koson, 1910. Sold for $110

 

“Snow at Nezu Shrine” by Koitsu Tsuchiya

Snow at Nezu Shrine by artist Koitsu Tsuchiya, 1950-1963. Yokoi/Harada seal, Early Edition published by Doi. Sold for $260

Snow at Nezu Shrine by artist Koitsu Tsuchiya, 1950-1963. Yokoi/Harada seal, Early Edition published by Doi. Sold for $260

 

“Imperial Palace in Snow” by Eiichi Kotozuka

Imperial Palace in Snow by artist Eiichi Kotozuka, 1950. Sold for $85

Imperial Palace in Snow by artist Eiichi Kotozuka, 1950. Sold for $85

 

“Itsukushima Shrine in Inland Sea” by Hasui Kawase

Tyobu-Torii of Itsukushima Shrine in Inland Sea by Hasui Kawase, 1936. Published by Watanabe for the book "Shinto and its Architecture"

Tyobu-Torii of Itsukushima Shrine in Inland Sea by Hasui Kawase, 1936. Published by Watanabe for the book “Shinto and its Architecture.” Sold for $100

 

“Sawatari in Joshu District” by Takahashi Shotei

Sawatari in Joshu District by Takahashi Shotei, 1936. Sold for $150

Sawatari in Joshu District by Takahashi Shotei, 1936. Sold for $150

 

“Honganji Temple in Snow” by Kotozuka Hiichi

Honganji Temple in Snow by artist Kotozuka Hiichi, 1950s. Sold for $180

Honganji Temple in Snow by artist Kotozuka Hiichi, 1950s. Sold for $180

 

“Hazy Moon on a Snowy Night” by Takahashi Shotei

Hazy Moon on a Snowy Night by Takahashi Shotei, 1936. Sold for $360

Hazy Moon on a Snowy Night by Takahashi Shotei, 1936. Sold for $360

Find a wintery Japanese woodblock print for your collection in this week’s Jasper52 auction

Intro to Collecting Japanese Woodblock Prints

An overview of beginning your Japanese Woodblock print collection and a preview of the upcoming Jasper52 auction on Saturday, September 10 at 4:00pm ET. Written by Dieuwke Eijer.

The word ‘collecting’ is often associated with ‘lots of money.’ As that may be correct in specific categories of collectables, some of the traditional collecting fields are offering us surprising opportunities. Luckily, within the Japanese woodblock prints we can find an amazing variety of high quality prints in good condition that do not break the bank, along with the blockbuster prints, such as the “Great Wave” by Hokusai.

Japanese woodblock prints can be divided into four broad categories:

  • Ukiyoe – traditional woodblock prints until roughly 1900
  • Shin-hanga – created from the late Meiji era until World War II, showing a mixture of traditional Japanese and modern western elements
  • Sosaku-hanga – avant-garde movement of the 1950s-1970s
  • Works by contemporary artists

Each category produced remarkable artists and subjects, to satisfy each possible angle of collecting prints. You can collect broadly, picking one print by each artist or school, from the beginning of ukiyoe until today. But there are also print collections narrowly focused on certain elements, such as on clocks, or firemen and their equipment, collections of works by Kawase Hasui and his peers (example below), or of complete series by a single ukiyoe artist – such as the B.W. Robinson collection of Kuniyoshi prints.

Kawase Hasui, Yakushi Temple, Nara, 1951. Est. $150-$200. Image from Jasper52

Kawase Hasui, Yakushi Temple, Nara, 1951. Est. $150-$200. Image from Jasper52

The group of prints offered in the September 10th Jasper52 auction, represents a broad array of artists from the ukiyoe school to the sosaku-hanga movement. Among the ukiyoe school prints, you will find works by Hiroshige from a variety of his series. Each of them is a very good impression and in remarkable color condition, giving us insight in some aspects of life in the city of Edo or along the road. The inside of an inn in Ishibe, a samurai train crossing the Oi River near Shimada, or people enjoying tea, a pipe and something to nosh at a tea stall near the Sanno Shrine.

Hiroshige Print - Jasper52

Utagawa Hiroshige, The Reservoir and the Sanno Shrine, 1854. Est $150-$200

In the late 19th century, Westerners started to travel to Japan, and the prints from that period reflect modern art concepts that led to the shin-hanga movement in the 20th century. Simultaneously, some Japanese artists chose to stick to traditional Japanese themes and turned their focus to nature. Examples of both can be found in this catalog. Eight works by the great observer of birds Ohara Koson are complemented by bird prints by some of his contemporaries, representing the artist group that turned to nature. On the other hand, great atmospheric evening views along the Sumida River in Tokyo by Kobayashi Kiyochika show us western influences. A canal with houses lined up in perspective; the silhouette of a man in western suit and hat among people dressed in kimono.

Kobayahshi Kiyochika Jasper52

Kobayashi Kiyochika, Night Scene at Sumida River, 1910’s. Est $200-$300

Shin-hanga artist Yoshida Hiroshi continued the landscape tradition of his great predecessors Hokusai and Hiroshige. At the occasion of the publication of his catalogue raisonné in 1987, a few of his masterworks were re-printed from the original blocks. Printed with the same care that Yoshida himself would have exercised, would he have lived, these posthumous works in amazing condition are affordable.

Hiroshi Yoshida, Spring in a Hot Spring. Originally published in 1927, this is a print from 1986. Est $200-$250

Hiroshi Yoshida, Spring in a Hot Spring. Originally published in 1927, this is a print from 1986. Est $200-$250

The prints are closed off by a few representatives of the sosaku-hanga movement and contemporary artists. Their names may be lesser known among the western collectors, but the quality of materials and degree of perfection are continued and can make the starting point of a wonderful collection.  

 


Dieuwke EijerDieuwke Eijer has over 20 years experience in Japanese traditional art. Before relocating to NYC, she led the Asian Art department at one of Europe’s oldest auction houses. She currently works with international buyers, auction houses, and gallerists to develop their collections, and is a member of the Japanese Society of Arts (Netherlands), the Japanese Art Society of America, and the International Netsuke Society.